RECALL ALERT - Update on Walmart’s Bestro Chicken Jerky Strips - MELAMINE
Posted on 2007 under Food & Nutrition, Health, News & Updates, Recalls |22 Aug
In a statement the company released late last nite, the two Chinese made treats; Chicken Jerky Strips manufactured by Import-Pingyang Pet Product Co and Chicken Jerky manufactured by Shanghai Bestro, contain melamine!
“The latest advice from our testing laboratory shows trace levels of melamine. Because of the low levels that were found, our laboratory has recommended additional testing,” the statement says. “Nevertheless, the product remains off shelves and we continue to take the extra precaution of placing a computerized block on the product at the cash register. Moreover, we encourage customers who may have purchased this product to return it for a full refund.”
Company spokeswoman Deisha Galberth said 17 sets of tests done on the products found melamine, a contaminant that’s a byproduct of several pesticides.
Wal-Mart’s statement Tuesday said customers should be especially wary of jerky from Shanghai Bestro Trading with the UPC number 0087784900006 and item number 839751.
Walmart pulled the chicken jerky treats off their shelves in July after some customer complaints, including deaths but didn’t issue a recall or make any announcements. This problem didn’t become public until pet owners finally contacted news agencies to get the word out about the problem. And now finally we hear that FDA is conducting their own investigation - finally!
And yes, melamine is the very same substance that caused the massive pet food recall just a few months ago. Wheat gluten tainted with the substance to boost protein ratings in food. It caused kidney failure in thousands and thousands of pets and the true number killed and sickened will never really be known.
More than 150 brands of pet food were recalled earlier this year after U.S. inspectors said wheat gluten from China that was used to make the food was tainted with melamine. An unknown number of dogs and cats died.
Since then, other Chinese products including tires, toothpaste, seafood, juice, and toys decorated with lead paint have been recalled or have come under scrutiny.
Attempts to contact the company in China finally got a response from Thomas Lee, who works in the sales department.
“We are very surprised to hear about the melamine issues,” Lee says. “The chicken jerky was made from chicken breast and there’s no wheat glutens, no proteins and no starch” in the product.
You can tell how surprised they are by the fact that their website, http://dogchews.com/, disappeared overnight!
He said that the product was tested before it left China but can’t say whether is was tested for melamine and say they will be conducting their own investigation. He says that their company has liability insurance but couldn’t answer questions about compensation to the owners of pets who have already died or become ill due to this latest round of pet poisonings!
Lee did say the his company plans to work with Walmart and the FDA to investigate and will release the results of the tests.
And here’s something more than a little scary; public records show that chicken jerky strips made by Pingyang Product Co. have been placed by the FDA on an automatic hold since May 6, 2005. That means the FDA may detain the shipment and release it only when the company has hired a private lab that certifies the product is safe. About 40 companies from around the world face similar restrictions.
The FDA includes a number of chicken jerky treats on a list of products subject to “detention with physical examination” because of concerns about microbiological contamination, according to import alert No. 72-03.
Here are some of the jerky manufacturers identified in that document:
Pingyang Pet Leather Manufacture Factory
Dongmen Rd., Nanyan Town
Zhejiang Province, Pingyang, ChinaPingyang Pet Product Co.
Xiazhai Rd., Xiaojiang
Pingyang, Zhejiang
Wenzhou Zhejiang (Province), ChinaPingyang Pet Toys Industrial Co.
Siqian Shuitou Town, Pingyang County
Wenghou, Zhejiang, ChinaThis link, provided by USA TODAY’s Bruce Rosenstein, lists some of the companies whose products have been refused entry at the border. (USA Today)
Well, looks like China is at it again! When is Walmart going to learn? When is the FDA going to learn? How many of our pets have to die? And what about all the other Chinese imports, how safe are they? I thought there was supposed to be some kind of a ‘crack down’ on this stuff!!
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by Tom VanBeer, on August 22 2007 @ 2:37 pm
I’m done with all China products and I’m done with Wal-Mart. I’m sick of this & it’s bound to keep happening unless consumers boycott.
by Admin, on August 22 2007 @ 2:41 pm
I so agree with you Tom! The saddest thing is how hard it is to find product not made in China or someplace with about the same quality standards. Made in the USA is getting tougher and tougher to find. Just scary!
And you can trust you won’t find much at all ‘Made in the USA’ at Walmart!
You would think some lessons had been learned by now but I guess not!
by Lara, on August 23 2007 @ 8:56 am
I am writing regarding a different “Chicken Jerky Treat” that I gave my pommie. “Waggin Train Brand” chicken Jerky Tenders. I gave her “one” of the tenders yesterday and now she has severe diarhea. She’s eaten nothing else that could have caused this….I am wondering if “anyone” else has had this problem with this product and if so will it be taken off of the shelves too. I will be takin her to the vet and will take the treats too so that he can check them out.
by Admin, on August 23 2007 @ 9:24 am
Lara, I did come across a commentary about this brand, Waggin Train, coupled with the Bestro brand on the eBay review site a few days ago. Not sure it may offer any help but you can take a look. I haven’t heard anything else but if there is anyone out there that has had any problems, please let us know!
Waggin’ Train Chicken Jerkey Treats - Info
by Harold, on August 26 2007 @ 12:00 pm
I agree with tom also, to day is sunday 8/26/07 and my pom just got admitted to hospital for kidney problem from eating wallmarts chicken jerky the past 2 week now I have the start of one big vet bill to save my dog and wallmart sure as hell don’t give a damm. people need to stop buying stuff from china and wallmart if they are going to start taking some responsibility for what they sell.
by Admin, on August 26 2007 @ 1:29 pm
Harold, sadly, like any ‘corporate enterprise’ their only real concern, no matter how much they espouse how much they care, is the bottom line! No, they really don’t give a damn at all!
I hope and pray your baby comes through this. I hope you have contacted Wal-mart and the FDA. Get the word out!!
by labmomnj, on August 27 2007 @ 9:48 am
My lab died a week ago Friday and I am quite sure it was a result of the Waggin Train Chicken Jerky.
by Admin, on August 27 2007 @ 10:08 am
Oh no! I am so very sorry to hear that! It’s terrible to lose a beloved pet but even more so when there’s a chance it was due to the fault of an outside source.
Please take the time to contact the company and FDA. The company put out a PR release about their brand chicken jerky and safety track record but if there’s a potential problem, it needs to get out!
Here the article I came across the other day about Waggin Train Chicken Jerky, PR put out by the company discussing their unblemished safety record. You can read it here - Waggin’ Train Brand Chicken Jerky Tenders Proven SAFE Over and Over Again
They provide an email address for customer service at the end of the article or you can visit their website - ADI Pet - Waggin’ Train Brand
by labmomnj, on August 27 2007 @ 11:28 am
Over the past week I have been in contact with ADIPet, Costco, FDA, Cornell Vet services and the Dept. of Agriculture.
by Tracie from Texas, on August 27 2007 @ 11:54 am
Please Don’t Feed these to small dogs. My teacup chihuahua almost died last month as a result of eating both Bestro and Waggin Train brands. If we hadn’t sought medical treatment immediately, we would have lost Cookie. There is no doubt in my mind this is what made her deathly ill. She was vomiting, stopped eating, and had diarrhea. Another site states the symptoms are equivalent to salmonella or ecoli in humans. Thanks to our veterinarian and his caring staff, 10 days of IV treatments, and a lot of TLC, we got through this. Our trauma began around July 20, 2007. I am putting the word out to everyone I know to get rid of these poisonous dog treats!!!
by Admin, on August 27 2007 @ 12:30 pm
labmomnj - I hope you get some satisfaction and that they’re taking this seriously! As you can see there are several comments regarding that brand. People need to know before any more of our beloved furbabies are sickened and killed!
Tracie - I’m so glad that your Cookie pulled through! Please take the time to contact the company and FDA, they need to know and the more people who contact them the more seriously they will take the complaints!
If there is anyway that I can help, please don’t hesitate to contact me! I will tell your stories and get the word out to people. It’s time to stop letting irresponsible companies kill our babies!!
by For The Love of the Dog » AVMA Issues Warning Regarding China Made Jerky Treats, on September 17 2007 @ 8:16 am
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by » Pet Food, Treat and Product Information Natural Health for Pets: Information, Tips and Resources on Natural Health for Your Pets, on September 17 2007 @ 1:03 pm
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by » AVMA Issues Warning Regarding China Made Jerky Treats Natural Health for Pets: Information, Tips and Resources on Natural Health for Your Pets, on September 21 2007 @ 10:15 am
[...] in News, Health, Food and Nutrition Many of you are familiar with the recent problems with the two brands of China made Chicken Jerky Treats sold by Wal-mart, well it seems the problems may be more widespread but there doesn’t seem to be anything [...]